Fur Resource

The North American alligator has been removed from the endangered species list as of 1987. It is now raised on farms due to its commercial value. The Chinese or Asian alligator does remain on the endangered list. The quality of these skins is not as fine as the American alligator. The alligator skin which is used today can be found in swamps and slow moving streams in Florida up to North Carolina. Alligator skin is

There are more than 90 species of Antelope from Africa, Asia, and America combined. The skin of Antelope is soft, supple, and pliable however the hair feels flat and stiff. Coloration varies from light brown to gray with white, dark brown or near black markings. Antelope is used to make coats, jackets, vests, belts, bags, and other garment related accessories. It’s not a durable fur as the fur rubs off easily when forced in the

Badger fur is long haired. It is usually left in it’s natural length with the exception of the grotzen hairs which are long mane like guard hairs that run down the center of the back which are plucked. Coloration varies from region to region with Canadian Badger having gray guardhair and pale white underfur, US Badger having gray guardhair and creamy underfur, and Asiatic Badger having grey guardhair and yellowish-brown underfur. The best Badger has

Bassarisk is a mammal found in the Southwestern United States and in Mexico. It has two layers of fur with the top layer being medium in length and the underfur being shorter. Coloration is light brown to yellowish brown with a lesser amount of gray or grayish white. The best Bassarisk has strong yellow tones. Not to be confused with ringtail possum, Bassarisk has trade names like ringtail, ringtailed cat, and miner’s cat because of

Bears are hunted for a variety of reasons but the main ones are for clothing and food. The hunting of black bear has been going on for centuries starting with the Norse tribes who as young men would hunt them with only a knife as a rite of passage. Different tribes traded animal pelts as they were highly valued for clothing. Russia was the main source of fur pelts before the discovery of North America.

Beaver fur is thick, soft, warm and hard-wearing. Beaver fur is used in it’s natural length, plucked, or sheared. Natural Beaver has a long shiny wirey top layer of guardhair and a thick softer layer of underfur. The coloration is brown, light brown, a combination of dark brown with lighter shades of brown on the sides, or silvery. The fur is very durable and makes great casual wear for both men and women. Sheared Beaver

There are several varieties of the Bird Of Paradise, and most are found in inner jungles of Papua, New Guinea. The Greater Bird Of Paradise is the one most often seen on women’s hats from the Edwardian Era. Like the Great Snowy Egret or Heron, they were prized for their stunning and colorful fine plumage, and were once hunted to the point of extinction for use in the millinery trade. Whole birds were often used

American Bison is also known as American Buffalo. The fur is shaggy, long, dark brown in winter, and a lighter weight, lighter brown in the summer. The term Buffalo is sometimes considered to be a misnomer for this animal as it is only distantly related to either two true Buffalo, the Asian Water Buffalo and the African Buffalo. The Wild Water Buffalo is considered to be a different species, is brownish-grey, and is on the

Burunduki is a small chipmunk that inhabits Northern Asia, Eastern and Central Europe. The fur is short and coarse. Coloration is brownish gray, with a yellow and/or whitish tint, and stripes that run down the head, back, and sides. The pelts are small and sewn together into plates to make garments. Burunduki does not offer much warmth and does not have enough durability to wear well as coats. The fur is occasionally used to make

The reference calf refers to the young of mammals in the Bovinae subfamily such as cow, ox, bison, buffalo, and other related animals. The image shown below is the calf of cow. Natural coloration is black, brown, white, a combination of some, or all. It sometimes dyed and stenciled to have the appearance of other animals. The hair is short and sleek. It feels smooth when brushed along the grain, but feels stiff when pushed

From the Hindu word Chita meaning “spotted one”, the cheetah’s coat varies from a tawny to golden tone covered in a pattern of solid black spots. It is coarse to the touch rather than silky. The throat and abdomen are a creamy white in color. The Cheetah has a small head with high set eyes and short rounded ears tipped with white on the back. The most well known characteristic is the distinct black ‘tear

The Chinchilla is a rodent from the Andes mountain range of South America and is known for its long, dense, extremely soft fur. The tiny animal was given the name chinchilla after the Inca tribe conquered the Chincha tribe in the 15th century. At the time the meat was used for food and the fur was used for blankets and robes. In the 16th century the Incas were conquered by the Spaniards. Story has it

The Civet may look like a cat but it is actually part of the Mongoose family. There are 35 species in 20 genera. The African Civet is the largest of the Civets. The Fishing or Aquatic Genet, or Congo Water Civet, is rare and inhabits small rivers and streams of the Central Africa forest. The common Genet can be found in France, Africa, Iberian Peninsula, and Palestine. The Genet’s tail makes up half of its

While leather can be made from the skins of sting rays to the skins of kangaroos, most leather comes from cattle skin. The prime advantage of cattle leather is its large size. It is used for everything from watch straps to floor-length coats. The specific treatment of the hide can create different effects, Many people prefer this leather as it can breathe, making it ideal for shoes, purses, and other accessories ‘Slink’ is leather made

Coyote, a member of the canine species, can be found across North America and parts of Central America. The fur is a long with thicker underfur. Coloration ranges from yellowish-gray or grayish-brown mixed with white, sometimes a bit of red, and dark brown to black tips. It is a durable fur that makes great coats for men and women. Written by Furwise.com

Although the use of Crocodile skin has been banned in many parts of the world, it is still available and it is still being used in the making of purses, belts, shoes etc. It is very pliable as well as being a very sturdy leather. The saltwater variety is the most desirable, the Crocodile Porosus. This is actually the largest reptile and can grow to be 18 feet in length. These are found in South

Deerskin leather is extremely strong but at the same time very soft and supple. It has a tendency to stretch over time and can loose its shape with rough wear. Popular skin used for boots, moccasins, jackets. Written by The Vintage Fashion Guild

Eel skin has been used to make clothing for centuries. The Native Americans were the first to use it. The use of eel skin was also in use in the Victorian Era. During the 1880s it became popular in the making of the very tight trousers which were favored by men who were known as Mashers – this was the term which was coined at the time for the Dandy, the well-dressed Gent. The majority

Elephant leather is primarily produced from the body of the African elephant. These skins are called panels. Other parts of the elephant are also used but in much smaller quantities. Common colors include black, dark brown and tan but it can be dyed in a variety of colors. The leather is prized for its depth of character and texture, durability and softness. Elephant leather is used to make belts, shoes, boots, jackets, upholstery, gun holsters

The Ermine has chocolate brown fur in the summer but in the winter it grows a pure white coat of moderately fine fur. Only the black tip of the tail remains the same color year round. Ermine is found in the north temperate and frigid sectors of Eurasia and North America. The fur is usually prepared by having the black of the tail inserted at regular intervals, so that it contrasts with the pure white